What are the Causes of a Slow Computer?

The first computer was invented by Charles Babbage in 1822. Unlike modern devices, it was 100% mechanical and only capable of computing numbers.

Fast forward to today, computers have become a crucial part of everyday life. In the U.S. alone, more than 92% of households have at least one type of computer.

Like all devices, however, they tend to slow down with age.

Are you having that problem? Want to know what might be causing your slow computer? If so, you’re on the right page.

We’ll be going over a few common scenarios (and how to fix them) below. Keep reading to learn more!

1. You Have Too Many Startup Programs 

Startup programs are programs that run automatically when you turn on your computer. The more you have (many can weasel their way into your startup menu during installation), the longer it’ll take for your system to boot up.

Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for this. For those who are using Windows 8 or 10, open ‘Task Manager’ and select the ‘Startup’ tab. A list of programs will appear. Simply right-click on the ones that you’d like to remove.

For those who are using a Mac, open ‘System Preferences’ and go to ‘User Groups’. Select ‘Login Items’ and you’ll be able to disable any unnecessary startup programs.

2. You’re Running Out of Space

As a general rule, you want to leave at least 15% of the hard drive free. If it gets too full, there won’t be enough space for temporary files and virtual memory, and that can drastically slow down your computer.

If necessary, give it a deep clean; get rid of any unused files. For example, you can uninstall old programs. Clearing the cache and other temporary files can also help (https://shredcube.com/deleting-temporary-files-on-pc/ has a detailed guide on what to do).

There’s also the option of moving files to a cloud storage service.

3. Your Computer Is Infected With Malware

Malware may be the reason your computer is running slow. For one thing, they can consume a substantial amount of memory. Not only that, but they can also cause your device to freeze or crash.

For example, some forms of malware can hide on your computer and steal its resources to mine for cryptocurrency in the background. If anything, it’s one of the more common computer problems that we’re facing today.

As it is, the easiest way to prevent this is to install an anti-malware program. Ideally, you want to get something with real-time protection, so that you won’t have to depend on manual scans.

Fixing a Slow Computer 

Various computer issues can affect the speed of your device. The good news is that most of them are fixable, so you won’t be stuck with a slow computer. If anything, you just have to identify the cause!

Did you find the information in this post helpful? For more articles like this, be sure to check out the rest of our technology section!